John D. Gartner, Ph.D.

John D. Gartner, Ph.D.Dr. John Gartner

For over 25 years I have treated Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and formerly, taught these treatment methods to psychiatric residents at Johns Hopkins University Medical School

While I treat all forms of bipolar disorder, I have a particular interest in hypomania, a mildly manic temperament often found in creative successful people. I emphasize how to gain self-control while at the same time not losing one's creative spark. My book, The Hypomanic Edge: The Link Between (a Little) Craziness and (a lot of) Success in America, linking hypomania to success and the American character was named by the New York Times Sunday Magazine as one of the most "innovative and important new ideas of 2005."

Contrary to what some may say, BPD is very treatable, and I've had good outcomes in the vast majority of cases. It's intensive long-term work, but with a properly trained therapist and a motivated patient the prognosis is good. I began my practice after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Treatment of Borderline Disorder at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, using the methods pioneered Dr. Otto Kernberg

For the last 5 years, I’ve integrated some aspects of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into my practice, especially mindfulness meditation. The calm self-awareness a disciplined mediation practice can provide allows you to make better choices in the moment, and it is a powerful tool in self-regulation. More meditation can mean less medication if you can learn to regulate yourself. And since most medications have side effects, less can be more.